Why Steve Blank is my Idol

by Adam Ayers on October 12th, 2011

I was first introduced to Steve Blank when we started Arkayne 2 years ago. We had the entire team read his book Four Steps to the Epiphany. Steve is my idol because he understands the technology and product development side of the business but more importantly he has created processes and techniques that marry and assist the marketing and customer development side with product development.

From Wikipedia:

Steve Blank is a Silicon Valley-based retired serial entrepreneur, founding and/or part of 8 startup companies in California’s Silicon Valley after dropping out of the University of Michigan. A prolific educator, thought leader and writer on Customer Development for Startups, Blank teaches, refines, writes and blogs on “Customer Development,” a rigorous methodology he developed to bring the “scientific method” to the typically chaotic, seemingly disorganized startup process.

I am inspired by Steve because I see a part of myself and my thought process inside of his work. Clearly he is far more experienced and has a much more developed intellect and professional resume but he is the type of Entrepreneur and Teacher I aspire to be one day. Do yourself a big favor, watch the Livestream below and definitely go buy his book – Four Steps to the Epiphany!